Premier League Preview: Newcastle United - Fulham

By Josh Kerslake

Newcastle are without Joey Barton after the midfielder received a three-match ban for punching Morten Gamst Pedersen during their 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night.

Wayne Routledge is the likely candidate to replace the suspended Barton on the right of the Magpies midfield.

Shola Ameobi is also a doubt for Chris Hughton's side as he limped off against Blackburn with a hamstring injury. Nile Ranger came on for Ameobi at half-time against Rovers, and will be hoping to get his chance from the start to partner the in-form Andy Carroll in attack.

It depends whether Chris Hughton elects to play the 4-2-3-1 formation which he started the season with, or carry on with the 4-4-2 system which has gained the Magpies wins over rivals Sunderland and most notably an impressive 1-0 victory against Arsenal.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes has highlighted the importance of Brede Hangeland as he prepares a team to defend against the in-form striker in the Premier League, Andy Carroll.

The Cottagers have no new injury worries and will bring the same squad to St James' Park that fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Chelsea on Wednesay night.

Academy graduate Matthew Briggs should get his second start for Fulham after making his debut on Wednesday against Chelsea, as first choice left-back Carlos Salcido is out until December with a knee ligament injury. One bit of good news for Fulham is that Andrew Johnson is likely to get his first start since returning from injury and the for Everton striker should help take some of the goalscoring load off of American striker Clint Dempsey who will slide back into the midfield.

Eighteen months ago, Roy Hodgson's Fulham side came to St James' Park on the penultimate game of the season, to face Alan Shearer's Newcastle United, desperate for three points in their bid for Premier League survival.

Diomansy Kamara netted the only goal to give Fulham a 1-0 win and send Newcastle closer to the drop. The Geordies' fate was sealed a week later, as current Fulham player Damien Duff deflected a shot past Steve Harper to relegate Newcastle to the Championship.

The two sides have met eight times in the Premier League at St James' Park, both winning three times, with the game ending level on two separate occasions.

Home sickness

Fulham are without an away win in the Premier League since a Bobby Zamora goal secured a 1-0 victory against Portsmouth in August 2009, and will be looking to capitalize on Newcastle's inconsistent home form on Saturday.

Newcastle are the complete opposite and have one of the best away records in the division, recording victories over West Ham, Everton and Arsenal.

The Toon Army are currently the most unpredictable team in the division, having lost at home to Stoke, Blackpool and Blackburn, despite smashing 11 goals past Sunderland and Aston Villa respectively at St James' Park.

The home side currently sit fifth in the table, four points ahead of 15th-placed Fulham, and both sides will be eager for a win to gain some breathing space in a very tight division.